Nice And Toasty: Cool Ideas For Reducing Your Winter Heating Bill

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By Mia Bolaris-Forget

The weather outside may not be frightful just yet, but if you don’t prepare for the elements, say experts, you’re energy bill may be downright scary.

According to experts if you take into consideration all the “holes” in your home, that allow air in, it may be equivalent to having a window open all year long, while also trying to heat your home. And, they suggest properly sealing your pipes, ducts, etc for additional energy savings this season.

The two key culprits to losing most of your home’s heat is via windows and doors. According to experts there should be no space between the bottom of a door and the rubber threshold, recommending some suitable weather stripping to help combat the “problem”. And, they recommend that it fit snugly but remain pliable. This, they say is especially essential in older homes that have settled and whose doorways no longer offer a snug fit, giving way to drafts. They also recommend blinds and heavy curtains to help keep the chill out, especially if you don’t have double or triple-paned windows or plastic covers with amble insulation.

The attic is another escape route for heat and making proper insulation a MUST. The good news is, according to experts, that insulating the attic is fairly easy and affordable. They recommend cellulose insulation which tends to be about 30 percent cheaper than standard attic insulation and it’s also made from recycled material, which means it’s also environmentally friendly. Cellulose is sold in bags that offer insulation for about 40 square feet. Plus, it’s blown in, meaning you don’t have to get down and crawl around on your hands and knees. Ready to buy? Experts suggest checking the “R” value. The higher the “R” value, the better the insulation. Note that lots of heat can also be lost if basement or crawl space pipes aren’t wrapped. For these the pros suggest R-6 or R-7 duct wrap.

Two other essentially easy ways to cut back on costs while also making your home warm and cozy are to change furnace filters at least once monthly and turn household temps down to 68 degrees. According to experts, modern heating systems have come a long way, noting the programmable thermostat as the most progressive heating invention. They suggest setting these for various times of the day, including turning it up before you wake up in the morning and turning it down a little before or after you go to bed. You’ll also want to make sure it shuts off while you’re at work, but comes back on for your return home.

Long Island Home & Lifestyle Articles > Nice And Toasty: Cool Ideas For Reducing Your Winter Heating Bill